Warning device

ABSTRACT

A warning device for vehicles having a rear portion, the device comprised of a rectangular warning sign made of a flexible sheet material having upper and lower edge portions; attachment means are connected to the edge portions for mounting the device to the vehicle. The attachment means are individually removably connected to the rear of said vehicle when the device is being displayed.

United States Patent Alfred Mosch 442 Popular St., Bridgeport, Conn.06605 741,970 July 2, 1968 July 27, 1971 [72] inventor [211 App]. No.

{22] Filed [45] Patented [54] WARNING DEVICE I 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. CL... 40/129 C [51] Int. Cl (20917/00 [50] Field of Search40/128, 129,125 F, 129A [56] I v References Cited I Q UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,821,035 1/1958 Joseph .1 40/129 A 2,911,746 11/1959 Frey40/128 3,255,725 6/1966 Von Kreidner... 40/129 C X 3,430,374 3/1969Woodard 40/129 Primary Examiner- Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney- Ernest F. Marmarek I ABSTRACT: Awarning device for vehicles having a rear portion, the device comprisedof a rectangular warning sign made of a flexible sheet material havingupper and lower edge portions; attachment means are connected to theedge portions for mounting the device to the vehicle. The attachmentmeans are individually removably connected to the rear of said vehiclewhen the device is being displayed.

WARNING DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to animproved safety warning device for automotive and other vehicles whichbecomes temporarily effective when the vehicle stands on the road in theway of other vehicles.

It has been proposed to permanently attach a warning sign to the rear ofan automobile in such a way that it is hidden, for example, in the rearcompartment when the automobile is in normal use and that it becomesvisible when, for example, the cover of the rear compartment is opened.The conventional structure, particularly the means for mounting thewarning sign on the rear part of the automobile are complicated andexpensive to make and install.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety warningdevice for automotive and other vehicles for warning other vehicles thatan automobile stands on the road in their way, which device can bequickly and reliably connected to the rear of an automobile and can bequickly taken down and folded for storage when no longer needed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety warningmeans which can be quickly and reliably applied to the rear of anautomobile of any type and make, whether it has a rear trunk or motorcompartment, whether it is a passenger car, a fastback, a station wagonor a truck, without making any alteration of the device.

The warning device according to the invention comprises a warning signwhich is applied, preferably painted, to a flexible, sheetlike, ifdesired, translucent material of rectangular configuration and having anedge on top of the sign and an edge at the bottom of the sign, saidedges being parallel and individually reinforced by a rodlike element. Asturdy elastic strap is connected to the ends of each rodlike elementand arranged coextensive therewith. The strap connected to the ends ofthe rodlike element which is on top of the sign is stretched around thefree edge of the cover of the trunk compartrnent'of the car which mustbe protected by the sign, for holding the rodlike element which is ontop of the sign, to the cover of the trunk compartment. The strap whichis connected to the ends ofthe rodlike'element which is at the bottom ofthe sign is stretched around any suitable protuberance at the bottom ofthe rear of the car, for example the license plate, so that the sign isfirmly held to the car.

If the sign is used in connection with a station wagon, the upper strapis stretched around the partly opened rear window or is clamped betweenthe rear window and its frame. The upperstrap may be cut in the middleand the halves of the strap may be individually placed parallel with therear side portions of the station wagon and clamped between the rearside windows and their frames. This system can also be used in passengercars having no rear compartment and cover therefore and having astationary rear window.

If the sign is used in connection with trucks there are always someprotuberances around which the straps can be laid for keeping the signin place.

In lieu of elastic straps inelastic ropes, strips and the like may betied at least to the ends of the rodlike element on top of the warningsign. These inelastic ropes are pulled tight and their ends areconnected by a bow knot when the warning device is displayed.

For removing the warning sign the straps, if elastic, are simply pulledoff the parts of the car around which they have been stretched. Forstorage of the sign the two rodlike ele ments are placed parallel withand adjacent each other and the folded sheetlike material to which thesign is applied is rolled onto the rodlike elements.

The sign now takes very little space and can easily be stored in thevehicle.

If the straps are inelastic the bow connecting the ends of two straps ispulled loose for disconnecting the straps and the warning sign is foldedand rolled onto the rodlike elements for storage as described above.

If desired, the upper rodlike elementor the upper edge of the sign maybe permanently attached to the inside of the free edge portion of thecover of the trunk compartment of the automobile and the lower rodlikeelement may be disconnectably connected to the inside of the cover whenthe sign is not used. When the cover is lifted, the lower edge of thesign can be pulled rearward and the strap attached to the rod onthelower edge of the sign can be made fast, for example, on the licenseplate.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will bestbe understood from the following description of embodiments thereof whenread in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the rear portion of anautomobile having a rear compartment and a cover therefor, provided witha warning sign according to the invention in operative position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the rear portion of anautomobile having a rear compartment and a cover therefor, provided witha modified warning sign according to the invention inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the rear portion of anautomobile having a rear compartment and cover therefor and providedwith another modification of a warning device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of the rear portion of a stationwagon provided with a warning sign according to the invention indisplayed position.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a warning device according to the invention infolded position.

FIG. 6 is a large scale perspective view of the upper left portion ofthe warning sign according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG..7 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a fastbackautomobile with a warning sign according to the invention shown indisplayed position.

Like parts are designated by like numerals in several FIGS. of thedrawing.

Referring more particularly to FIG. I of the drawing, numeral ldesignates a warning sign painted on or otherwise applied to a sheet ofa flexible material which may be transparent. The upper edge of thesheet 1 is reinforced by a rod 2 and the lower edge is reinforced by arod 3. A string 4 is connected to the right end of the rod 2 and astring 5 is connected to the left end of the rod 2. A string 6 isconnected to the ends of the rod 3 and is sufficiently long to bestretched around the license plate 7 or other suitable element of thelower rear portion of the car to be protected. After securing the string6 to the car the strings 4 and 5 are laid adjacent the outside of thefree end portion of a cover 8 of the rear compartment of an automobile,the rod 2 being on the inside of the free end portion of the cover 8.The free ends of the strings, ribbons or ropes 4 and 5 are now pulledtoward each other and tied by a bow 9. The sign 1 is thereby pulled upand the string 6 tensioned. If desired, the latter may be cut to formtwo parts each being connected to an end of the rod 3. These two partscan be pulled together for tightening and connected by a bow.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 the two inelastic elements 4and Sshown in FIG. 1 are replaced by an elastic strap I0 and the string6 shown in FIG. 1 may also be made of elastic material. The arrangementshown in FIGS. 2 and 6 facilitates and quickens display of the warningsign and makes its hold on the automobile more reliable.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the upper rod 2 oredge of the warning sign is made fast on the inside of the cover 8 ofthe trunk compartment. The lower rod 3 or edge of the warning sign isremovably connected to the inside of the cover of .the trunkcompartment, for example, by permanent magnets, snap fasteners or thelike, not shown, when the warning sign is not in use. When display ofthe warningsign is desired, the cover 8 is opened and the rod 3 or loweredge of the sign is disconnected from the cover. A string 6, which maybe elastic, and which is connected to the ends of the lower rod 3 isstretched around a projecting part, for example the license plate, ofthe lower rear portion of the automobile, as shown by dotted lines. Ifthe string 6 is inelastic and in two parts the ends thereof are pulledtogether and connected by a bow.

FIG. 4 shows the application of the warning sign I to the rear of astation wagon. Here the upper strap 10 or straps 4 and are clampedbetween the slightly opened rear window and its frame. The lower strap 6is arranged in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

If there are no facilities for connecting the upper edge of the warningsignal 1 to the rear of the automobile, as in the case of an automobilebody know as fastback," the strap connected to the upper edge of thesign may be made in two parts, each part having an end made fast on anupper corner of the sign, the free ends of the straps being individuallyclamped between the slightly opened rear side windows and their frames.in the embodiment shown in FIG. half-round the upper rod may be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows a sign according to the invention in folded condition. Theupper rod 2 and the lower rod 3 have a halfround cross-sectionalconfiguration. Opposite edge portions of the sign 1 are individuallymade fast on the flat surfaces of the rods. The ends of the strap orstraps 4 and 5 are connected to the ends of the rods preferably by meansof ringscrews. When the sign is in rest position the strap 10 or straps4 and 5 are alongside of and adjacent the half-round longitudinalsurfaces of the rods. For storing the device the flat surfaces of therods are placed together and the sign is folded as shown in FIG. 5. Theextension of the folded sign is only half of that of the extended signand the sign can be quickly rolled up on the cylindrical member formedby the two rods.

1 claim l. A warning device for automotive and other vehicles, saidwarning device comprising a substantially rectangular warning sign madeof flexible sheet material and having an upper edge portion and a loweredge portion, first string means connected to said upper edge portion,and second storing means connected to said lower edge portion, saidstring means being individually removably attached to a portion of avehicle when the warning sign is in displayed position, rodlikereinforcements for said upper edge portion and for said lower edgeportion, said string means being individually connected to the ends ofsaid rodlike reinforcements, each of said rodlike reinforcements has ahalf-round cross section and a plane longitudinal surface, said edgeportions being individually connected to said plane surfaces, said planesurfaces being adjacent and opposite one another for forming acylindrical means for rolling the warning sign thereonto when thewarning sign is prepared for storage.

2. A warning device for automotive and other vehicles, said warningdevice comprising a substantially rectangular warning sign made of aflexible sheet material and having an upper edge portion and a loweredge portion, first string means connected to said upper edge portion,and second string means connected to said lower edge portion, saidstring means being individually removably attached to a portion of avehicle when the warning sign is in displayed position, rodlikereinforcements for said upper edge portion and for said lower edgeportion, said string means being individually connected to the ends ofsaid rodlike reinforcements, each of said rodlike reinforcements havinga half-round longitudinal surface, said string means being alongside andadjacent said half-round longitudinal surface when the warning device isin storage positron.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,594,938 Dated July 27, 1971 Inventods) Alfred Mosch It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents Column 4, line 5, "storing means" should read string meansFORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCQMM Dc e0 76 n us eovzmmnn Nmmus ornc: 1969o-us-au

1. A warning device for automotive and other vehicles, said warningdevice comprising a substantially rectangular warning sign made offlexible sheet material and having an upper edge portion and a loweredge portion, first string means connected to said upper edge portion,and second storing means connected to said lower edge portion, saidstring means being individually removably attached to a portion of avehicle when the warning sign is in displayed position, rodlikereinforcements for said upper edge portion and for said lower edgeportion, said string means being individually connected to the ends ofsaid rodlike reinforcements, each of said rodlike reinforcements has ahalfround cross section and a plane longitudinal surface, said edgeportions being individually connected to said plane surfaces, said planesurfaces being adjacent and opposite one another for forming acylindrical means for rolling the warning sign thereonto when thewarning sign is prepared for storage.
 2. A warning device for automotiveand other vehiCles, said warning device comprising a substantiallyrectangular warning sign made of a flexible sheet material and having anupper edge portion and a lower edge portion, first string meansconnected to said upper edge portion, and second string means connectedto said lower edge portion, said string means being individuallyremovably attached to a portion of a vehicle when the warning sign is indisplayed position, rodlike reinforcements for said upper edge portionand for said lower edge portion, said string means being individuallyconnected to the ends of said rodlike reinforcements, each of saidrodlike reinforcements having a half-round longitudinal surface, saidstring means being alongside and adjacent said half-round longitudinalsurface when the warning device is in storage position.